Fleetwood 2-2 Southend: Fleetwood come back twice to draw

Kevin Bond’s quest to win his first game as Southend boss was thwarted by his old QPR pupil Joey Barton as Fleetwood fought back twice to draw 2-2.

Bond coached Barton at QPR but the rookie manager's Fleetwood side levelled in the 85th minute to stop Bond marking his first game with three points.

Bond nearly started his Southend United managerial career in the worst possible way as Paddy Madden found the net. But the Irishman's second minute header was chalked off for offside and the Shrimpers re-grouped.

They opened the scoring in the 20th minute as Harry Bunn capitalised on a defensive error. It was experienced midfielder Ross Wallace who slipped up as his clearing header flew straight to Simon Cox.

He fed Michael Kightly and his shot looped up into the path of Harry Bunn who poked the ball past Cairns in the 20th minute.

Fleetwood came out fighting in the second half with substitutes Ash Hunter and Ashley Nadesan making an impact. Paddy Madden was thwarted by the toe of Shrimpers shot-stopper Nathan Bishop and Hunter's corner crashed onto the bar.

Town got their goal minutes later as Nadesan's delightful ball split open Southend's defence to send Ched Evans clear. His thunderous strike was too hot for Bishop to handle with Town levelling in the 59th minute.

Southend's Luke Hyam gave the Shrimpers the lead again in the 81st minute. Fleetwood failed to clear a free-kick and Hyam pounced at the top of the box, blasting the ball past Cairns.

But Fleetwood did not give up and they were soon level. Madden was ruled to have been fouled by Harry Lennon in the box and Evans calmly slotted home the subsequent spot-kick in the 84th minute.

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